Digital Mammography

About Mammography:

Since Premier Diagnostic Imaging's inception in 1999, the Premier Center for Women has been the leading mammography provider for the Upper Cumberland, being the first to offer digital mammography, and later the first to introduce 3D mammography. Premier provides the highest quality of care in the prevention and early detection of breast cancer.

Women should begin receiving mammograms every year after age 40, according to the American College of Radiology (ACR). There is no fixed age at which women should stop getting mammograms. As long as a woman is in good health and would be a candidate for treatment, she should continue to have mammograms.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women, exceeded only by lung cancer. Statistics indicate that one in eight women will develop breast cancer sometime in her lifetime. The stage at which breast cancer is detected influences a woman’s chance of survival. If detected early, the five-year survival rate is 98%. An annual digital mammogram is covered by Medicare and most insurance plans.

Your exam will also give you information about the density of your breasts. Breast density is a proportional measure of the glandular, connective and fatty tissues. Having dense breasts is not an abnormal condition; in fact, about half of all women over 40 have dense breasts. The exact relationship between breast density and breast cancer is still unknown, but having dense breasts may increase your risk of developing breast cancer.

About Digital Mammography:

A recent large study from the National Cancer Institute found that digital mammography is more accurate in finding cancers in women younger than 50 and in women with dense breast tissue than traditional mammography. Digital mammography allows radiologists to electronically manipulate the images to see much more detail, which allows them to identify cancer or other conditions that have similar symptoms.

Introducing the SmartCurve™ Breast Stabilization System:

Clinically Proven to Deliver a More Comfortable Mammogram Compared to Standard Compression.

With pain being the number one complaint during mammograms, this fear of pain prevents many women from making regular breast imaging appointments a priority. Not only can this have a negative impact on patient volume and satisfaction scores, but it can put women at risk of a cancer being missed, or diagnosed at a more advanced stage.

With improved comfort, the SmartCurve™ system was designed to address this challenge and provide a better patient experience for women during their mammograms.

About 3D Genius Mammography:

3D Genius Mammography (breast tomosynthesis) provides over 200 times more images than 2D mammography. 3D Genius Mammography offers a better chance to diagnose breast cancer earlier, at more treatable stages, by producing a three-dimensional view of the breast tissue. This helps radiologists identify and characterize individual breast structures without the confusion of overlapping tissue.

Premier’s 3D mammography offers exceptionally sharp breast images, an advanced ergonomic design providing more patient comfort and superior screening for all breast types. This type of mammogram is especially valuable for women receiving a baseline screening, those who have dense breast tissue and women with a personal history of breast cancer.

Breast cancer screening with tomosynthesis when combined with a conventional 2D mammography has a 40% higher invasive cancer detection rate than conventional 2D mammography alone. Tomosynthesis technology gives radiologists increased confidence with up to a 40% reduction in recall rates.

What to expect:

The 3D Genius Mammography screening experience is similar to that of a 2D digital mammogram. During a Genius exam, multiple, low-dose images of the breast are acquired at different angles. These images are then used to produce a series of one-millimeter thick slices that can be viewed as a 3D reconstruction of the breast. There is no anesthesia or recovery time.

How to prepare:

Do not wear deodorant the day of your mammogram. Many deodorants use aluminum products, which can be detected on the mammogram images and interfere with the evaluation of your breast tissue. If you are wearing deodorant, you will be asked to wash it off prior to your exam.